Steering wheel shake when braking

PCTim · **Posted:** Fri Apr 07, 2006 9:04 am

OK, I have a question. Recently I've noticed that when I brake fairly hard, my steering wheel will shake (left to right movement). My first thought was a warped rotor, but when it was happening this morning, I took my hand off of the wheel, and I noticed that the brake pedal was NOT vibrating at all. Any ideas? I did go wheeling a few weeks back, and I might still have some mud stuck in a tire, or I might have dropped a wheel weight. Of course, if that were the case, it would shake all of the time, not just when braking. If anyone can point me in the right direction, I would greatly appreciate it.

BTW, it is an '04 Sport with 24k miles.

Thanks,

LoganSix · **Posted:** Fri Apr 07, 2006 10:39 am

Just a guess, but you might have got some mud in the brakes and messed up the rotors. I experienced the same issue and it went away after getting the brakes fixed.

phxtoad · **Posted:** Fri Apr 07, 2006 12:32 pm

Also check your ball joints and upper A arms. The brake grabbing will cause an oscillation if there is any play. A worse scenario is if it's your front drive shafts/CV's or the needle bearings that support the shaft.

I'm going through the same thing right now.

Good luck and be careful!

Todd

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Fri Apr 07, 2006 2:16 pm

Mine does the same thing. Warped rotors, the pedal will not vibrate.

It does it really bad if im going around 70 and need to stop real fast.

PCTim · **Posted:** Fri Apr 07, 2006 3:07 pm

Quote:

Mine does the same thing. Warped rotors, the pedal will not vibrate.

It does it really bad if im going around 70 and need to stop real fast.

Thanks. I thought it was the rotors, but I could've sworn that the pedal would vibrate as well. Guess I need to change them out. I just did this a few months back on my buddy's 04 Limited, so it shouldn't be an issue.

SKIDOG · **Posted:** Fri Apr 07, 2006 4:59 pm

Quote:

OK, I have a question. Recently I've noticed that when I brake fairly hard, my steering wheel will shake (left to right movement). My first thought was a warped rotor, but when it was happening this morning, I took my hand off of the wheel, and I noticed that the brake pedal was NOT vibrating at all. Any ideas? I did go wheeling a few weeks back, and I might still have some mud stuck in a tire, or I might have dropped a wheel weight. Of course, if that were the case, it would shake all of the time, not just when braking. If anyone can point me in the right direction, I would greatly appreciate it.

FWIW My girlfriend a very similar problem with her front end shakiing the same way .(2001 Dodge Caravan) after replacing brake pads rotors and driver side caliper.No change took it to the dealer turns out it was the sway bar bushings.If that was what it really was but thats what they said they fixed and hasn't had a problem since....
My $.02

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Fri Apr 07, 2006 6:04 pm

SKIDOG wrote:

Quote:

OK, I have a question. Recently I've noticed that when I brake fairly hard, my steering wheel will shake (left to right movement). My first thought was a warped rotor, but when it was happening this morning, I took my hand off of the wheel, and I noticed that the brake pedal was NOT vibrating at all. Any ideas? I did go wheeling a few weeks back, and I might still have some mud stuck in a tire, or I might have dropped a wheel weight. Of course, if that were the case, it would shake all of the time, not just when braking. If anyone can point me in the right direction, I would greatly appreciate it.

FWIW My girlfriend a very similar problem with her front end shakiing the same way .(2001 Dodge Caravan) after replacing brake pads rotors and driver side caliper.No change took it to the dealer turns out it was the sway bar bushings.If that was what it really was but thats what they said they fixed and hasn't had a problem since....
My $.02

How would sway bar bushings cause vibrations? That makes so sense what so ever? Weird dealership. Maybe they did something else and said they changed the bushings?

SKIDOG · **Posted:** Sat Apr 08, 2006 2:49 pm

PCTim Have you found out what the problem is yet?I'm curious to what it could be :shock:

1calkid · **Posted:** Sat Apr 08, 2006 3:02 pm

Tim, I've had this problem before on various different vehicles and it's been with the front brake rotors. If it was me, I would replace the rotors with some decent ones and also the pads. Just what I would do. Good Luck and let us know what you find out.

hoku5 · **Posted:** Sat Apr 08, 2006 6:03 pm

I also had the same problem. Found out one of my rotors was wearing uneven. You can take the rotors off and take it to a auto parts store and they can resurface it to make it flat and even. I would do it soon cause the vibration will eventually ruin your wheel bearing and seal. Take your wheel off remove 2 bolts that hold's your brake caliper remove it and support it with a coat hanger around the upper control arm then remove the rotor. Don't forget to buy new brake pads. You will save some money doing it yourself.
Good luck,
Nolan

PCTim · **Posted:** Mon Apr 10, 2006 10:41 am

I didn't get a chance to take care of it this weekend. I was just starting to change the oil on my wife's car, and I was jacking it up, I saw this...

I asked her about it and she said she never noticed it. I asked her how long the car has been shaking, and and she says a while. I told her I can't fix things I don't know about, and I can't know about them if I don't drive the car. Anyways, two tires, $145. I got the free lifetime alignment when I bought tires last time, so that's covered. It's going back today for inner and outer tie rod ends on the left side (bad tire was on right side). My rotors aren't that bad yet, so I can wait a couple of weeks.

benmar2000 · **Posted:** Mon Apr 10, 2006 11:09 am

Man.. That is bad... I can understand the shaking now... Glad something didn't break while going down the hiway... Could have been a bad situation..

Ben

usafgearhead · **Posted:** Mon Apr 10, 2006 1:44 pm

It may just be my 2 cents, but if you guys are putting wheels on with an impact or anything other that a torque wrench, its is very likely you will warp your rotors. the lugs have to be tightened to a specific torque and in the normal sequence. I see it all the time. The steering wheel will shake but you wont feel it in the pedal. You may be able to take it to a shop and they will tell you. Just be aware that all rotors do have a little side to side play to kick the pads back so they dont rub on the rotors. A little is okay, a lot is very bad. Like I said, just my 2 cents.

SKIDOG · **Posted:** Wed Apr 12, 2006 5:34 pm

Quote:

How would sway bar bushings cause vibrations? That makes so sense what so ever? Weird dealership. Maybe they did something else and said they changed the bushings

Ok Jeepjeepster sorry about some of the mis-informaton.The dealer did replace a few more things then the bushings.They also replaced the swar bar end links.
PCTim have you found out what the problem was?

PCTim · **Posted:** Thu Apr 13, 2006 2:50 pm

Still haven't had a chance to look at it yet. I'm going to do an oil change this weekend, and while I'm in "repair" mode, I'll pull the tires and have a look. It's probably the rotors. I'll keep everyone posted.

PCTim · **Posted:** Mon Apr 17, 2006 8:29 am

Well, I took off the front wheels this weekend. The pads still have about half thickness left. The rotors look OK, but not great. In a couple of weeks, I'll swap everything out (pads and rotors) and report back.

JeeperCreeper · **Posted:** Thu Apr 20, 2006 3:47 pm

Whats the best/cheapest place to buy new rotors?

SKIDOG · **Posted:** Thu Apr 20, 2006 4:24 pm

I don't claim to be an 'Expert" but I think you might need to check other stuff more than your rotors...

PitViper · **Posted:** Thu Apr 20, 2006 5:16 pm

PCTim wrote:

I didn't get a chance to take care of it this weekend. I was just starting to change the oil on my wife's car, and I was jacking it up, I saw this...

I asked her about it and she said she never noticed it. I asked her how long the car has been shaking, and and she says a while. I told her I can't fix things I don't know about, and I can't know about them if I don't drive the car. Anyways, two tires, $145. I got the free lifetime alignment when I bought tires last time, so that's covered. It's going back today for inner and outer tie rod ends on the left side (bad tire was on right side). My rotors aren't that bad yet, so I can wait a couple of weeks.

Is it just me or does that lower control arm look wrong for a KJ?

JeeperCreeper · **Posted:** Thu Apr 20, 2006 5:29 pm

Looks like a jack to me buddy

Steering wheel shake when braking

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